THE 'ROVER' 6i 



her wash away? Her'll never be no good to 

 thee, n'eet to nobody else.' 



Benjie let go the cut-rope. 



*No good !' he shouted, raising his voice 

 not alone because of the noise the sea was 

 making. 'No good! Time you've been half so 

 many miles as this yer's carried me, you can 

 talk 'bout 710 good. If I was to do her up her'd 

 go farther yet than some o' 'ee's ever been, or's 

 likely to go. I tell 'ee I'd rather lose me drifter 

 an' all her nets an' gear than hae ort happen to 

 this one. Haul away ! Haul away, there, an' 

 let's get her into safety !' 



Believing what he said, we hauled with a will 

 and silently, a little ashamed. If Davy Jones 

 were to give him the alternative of losing either 

 his drifter or else the Rover, he might be forced 

 to let the Rover go, because he depends on the 

 drifter for part of his living, whereas the Rover's 

 earning days are done. Even then an angry 

 defiance of such a hard alternative might cause 

 him to send the drifter to Davy Jones and destruc- 

 tion, if only by that sacrifice the Rover could be 

 saved. For she is the old boat he loves. She 

 Is as one of his limbs. 'Tis to be hoped she will 

 last him out; that he will be spared the loss of 



